Takeaways from Day 1 of Bears Mini-Camp

Kamil Krzaczynski - USA Today Sports

Dustin Riese - Senior Writer - Wednesday, June 04 2025

Now that the Voluntary OTAs are complete, it's time to move to the next phase of the offseason program, known as mini-camp. This is the final step of the pre-offseason prep program, as mini-camp will lead into training camp.

Although this may not be seen as crucial as Training Camp, it's indeed just as important, if not more so, as this is the first time during the offseason when the rookies and veterans come together. For the Bears, you couldn't have asked for a better start, as Chicago had perfect attendance on Day 1 despite having some key players out with injuries.

That is all you can ask for as a fan or even for a first-year head coach. As you can tell, things are different with Ben Johnson at the helm. His no-nonsense attitude is starting to rub off on the players, and the accountability factor has been on full display as he has no issues stopping practice to correct a player who makes a mistake.

It's that type of accountability that has been lacking for the Bears over the past few seasons, and some wonder if more accountability from Matt Eberflus would have made a difference. Enough about Eberflus; this is a brand-new era of Bears football, and it's one that's filled with excitement and anticipation.

Here are some takeaways from Day 1 of mini-camp:

Devin Duvernay Continues to impress

The Chicago Bears made a ton of intriguing moves this offseason, and Duvernay was one of them. The former Baltimore Ravens wide receiver is a kick return specialist who was brought to Chicago to serve as the main return man, while also acting as the team's No. 4 or No. 5 option.

With OTAs and Day 1 of mini-camp out of the way, Duvernay has not only been one of the most impressive offensive players but also one of the most impressive players period. Signed to a one-year deal this offseason, there weren't too many who felt he would have much of an effect on this offense.

However, given his speed and ability to stretch the field, Duvernay not only fits the Johnson offense well but could also give this offense an element it hasn't had in years. According to multiple reports, Duvernay has been the standout player this offseason, as he continues to make plays every day. That continued on day one of mini-camp as he is leaving his mark on this coaching staff.

Cole Kmet ready to take Loveland under his wing

When the Bears drafted Coleston Loveland No. 10 overall, there were a lot of questions that came with that pick. On paper, it was a great selection as Loveland was arguably the best Tight End in his class, depending on how you view Cole Warren.

Given that Kmet was already locked up long-term and still has multiple years left on his deal, some felt the decision to draft Loveland was a wasted pick as they don't need a tight end. You can never have enough depth, and as good as Kmet has been, he still needs a running mate to help take the load off his shoulders.

Not only is Loveland that running mate, but he gives the Bears one of the best tight end rooms in the NFL as Chicago is poised to run a ton of duel tight end sets this season. Despite the addition of Loveland and the potential of him taking some snaps away from Kmet with the first team offense, Kmet is ready to be the leader as he has already taken Loveland under his wing.

As important as everyday reps are for a rookie, it's equally as important to have that veteran mentor show you the way of the NFL and how it works. Kmet had that when he was a rookie, and now he is passing that on to Loveland as he looks to be one of the offensive leaders this season.

Caleb Williams and the offense are a work in progress

One of the toughest things Caleb Williams will be dealing with this season is learning his second offensive scheme in as many seasons. That is largely because the previous regime that drafted Williams is no longer in place, and Johnson has brought in an entirely different staff paired with a new offensive scheme.

It was going to take some time for everyone on the offense to learn this new scheme, and there have been several rough showings in the early going, which have led to some frustrations across the board from Johnson. All that matters is that they improve from one day to the next, and even if it is taking a tad longer than expected, Williams and the offense are starting to turn the corner and show signs of growth.

That is all you can ask for at this point in the offseason, as you want your offensive group to continue to improve every day, leading into the training camp portion of the offseason. The mistakes are inevitable, but as long as the offense doesn't regress from one day to the next, it seems like they are making the necessary strides to prepare for the season.